Best for 50 years? In some ways, YES

[pjdaly]

Watching some of the play produced by Ian Evatt and his team this season set me thinking that in some respects (stress, "some") this is the best soccer I have seen for 50 years at Holker Street, since the long-ago days when the maestro that was Colin Appleton was pulling the strings in the middle of the park during our days near the top of the old 3rd division. That seems quite appropriate, given that we are only weeks away from the 50th anniversary of the one single night in our history when Barrow really did "rule the Third".

Of course, I have to stress that it's only the best in some respects. After all, we currently lie only 12th in the league and so if we were that good we would be much higher. Clearly, our defence, despite the impressive efforts of Granite and co, does not begin to compare with a back line such as that that we enjoyed, say, twenty years ago when, with Dave Higgins, Jonah, Steve Farrelly and co presented a formidable defensive unit. I think they only let in 16 goals all season in 98-99 whereas we've already let in 19 this term. Likewise, going forwards, others might prefer the creativity on show from the late 1980's leading into 1990, spearheaded by the artist that was Kenny Lowe (one of the mysteries of life remains why that non-league genius didn't get into regular League football till he was about 30). Others might point to the free-scoring and entertainingly beautiful game portrayed by Vic Halom, and aided and abetted by the Diamonds and Gambles of that era. That was great, but for me it was a so much lower level, and the NPL of 83-84 does not stand comparison to today's National League.

For me, I don't think I have seen this pure cohesiveness in a team, where every player seems to almost instinctively know where the other players are, in all our years in non-league. The interchanges in little packs of three or four are like nothing I have seen in those fifty years since Appleton would sit in the middle of the park and expertly spray long balls out to the flanks where McCarthy and Storf would then rip full-backs to shreds. Rooney is a bit of a mini-App the way he does a similar thing, sits there and distributes 30 or 40 yard passes, just as he did to set Hindle away for the first goal yesterday.

Less than two years ago we destroyed eventual champions, Lincoln, in a brutal, bone-jarring 3-0 win at Holker Street. Maybe if we could play that Barrow team they would overwhelm our current team with sheer physicality. But could they play the sort of football that we play now? No. That stuff was Kong seeing off a velociraptor on Skull Island. The subtleties and deft strokes of the current team make us less of a Kong and more a Gainsborough (Thomas that is, not Trinity). I suppose it boils down to whether you just want to win no matter what the style (Coxian) or whether, to paraphrase Ian Evatt, you don't wish to be ever seeing that sort of stuff under his management. I know who I would prefer to pay to watch, no matter what frailties we possess in amongst the patches of poetry we produce on the pitch.

[HenneysKnee]

I really hope we can keep Smith and Burgess on loan till the end of the season

[Shaun]

That's a nice piece of writing pj. Appreciated especially as I've not seen them play.

[Rob]

I've not seen football of this quality, match after match, from Barrow in my lifetime (in my 30s!). We've had teams that are more effective in the past - that's been the reason we've dropped points in a few matches - but in terms of quality and attractiveness of football the past two months must be among the best of our non-league era.

[Fazered]

It is difficult to compare this team to the Mulholland, McCarthy, Else team of the mid sixties when I first went to Holker St especially when the rose tinted glasses are taken into consideration but as stated some of the neat passing and interchanges are brilliant to watch and compared to what has been on offer recently, fantastic to watch. I am very happy with this and look forward to the games instead of reluctantly turning up out of a sense of loyalty to see the team like last season

[barrowfan]

Nice assessment.

It's a shame that there are not more people there to see the football.

We all need to spread the word, and perhaps it might be an idea to see PJD if you can get the Mail to take notice of your thoughts and publish them.

[Hitthebar22]

Nice assessment.

It's a shame that there are not more people there to see the football.

We all need to spread the word, and perhaps it might be an idea to see PJD if you can get the Mail to take notice of your thoughts and publish them.

Good idea. The team is a regular source of news for The Mail, so during this purple patch the paper could help the club by promoting the different style of play and other attributes, all designed to get extra supporters to attend.
I persuaded an extra 2 to go on Saturday v Sutton (one an ex semi-pro), and they were genuinely surprised at Barrow’s best bits, and how attractive they are to watch.
We all know there are flaws, but it’s a real pleasure to go to HS now, rather than just fulfil what became a bit of a duty during much of the previous couple of seasons.
It would be great if we could get another, say, 500 to go to home games regularly. The interest must be there - (yes I know it’s a bit different but) think Rochdale and how easily the tickets sold.

[pjdaly]

I reckon you got that wrong, PJ. I think we have conceded 17, not 19, so far this season.

I suspect you've been taken in by that Sutton clown who insisted that they had two legitimate goals wiped out on Saturday. If I were you I wouldn't listen to anything he says.

[Alley_Cat]

I've not seen football of this quality, match after match, from Barrow in my lifetime (in my 30s!). We've had teams that are more effective in the past - that's been the reason we've dropped points in a few matches - but in terms of quality and attractiveness of football the past two months must be among the best of our non-league era.

I completely agree with you Rob. I’m baffled that this is not bringing the punters in to HS though, it can’t be all down to the crumbling facilities?
I’d be expecting 1400/1500 with this level of football not 1200...

[mall]

I've not seen football of this quality, match after match, from Barrow in my lifetime (in my 30s!). We've had teams that are more effective in the past - that's been the reason we've dropped points in a few matches - but in terms of quality and attractiveness of football the past two months must be among the best of our non-league era.

I completely agree with you Rob. I’m baffled that this is not bringing the punters in to HS though, it can’t be all down to the crumbling facilities?
I’d be expecting 1400/1500 with this level of football not 1200...

Theirs no money in the town-area, thats why.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Best for 50 years?

There's no way the current side compares to Colin Appleton's team of the early 1970s. I watched that team as a boy.

The present side are playing football that's far superior to some of our teams from the past but to compare it to the team that finished 8th in the old Divsion 3 is far off the mark. Pjdaly mentions David Storf and Roy McCarthy in his opening post. Those two wingers were worth the admission fee alone - their dazzling wing displays ruthlessly and regularly tore opposing defences to shreds! It really was a delight to watch...week in/week out.

The present side have huge potential but need to address particular flaws such as their lack of concentration in the closing mins of games. Too many times have the opposition scored last min equalisers/winning goals. It happened again against Sutton last Saturday - okay; theirs was a consolation goal - but lack of focus towards the end of fixtures has cost us points this season. And it continues to occur...

[Alley_Cat]

I completely agree with you Rob. I’m baffled that this is not bringing the punters in to HS though, it can’t be all down to the crumbling facilities?
I’d be expecting 1400/1500 with this level of football not 1200...

Theirs no money in the town-area, thats why.

Another totally valid point, but we have had occasional good crowds do it shows an appetite. I post this to provoke positive debate...

[pjdaly]

Best for 50 years?

There's no way the current side compares to Colin Appleton's team of the early 1970s. I watched that team as a boy.

The present side are playing football that's far superior to some of our teams from the past but to compare it to the team that finished 8th in the old Divsion 3 is far off the mark. Pjdaly mentions David Storf and Roy McCarthy in his opening post. Those two wingers were worth the admission fee alone - their dazzling wing displays ruthlessly and regularly tore opposing defences to shreds! It really was a delight to watch...week in/week out.

The present side have huge potential but need to address particular flaws such as their lack of concentration in the closing mins of games. Too many times have the opposition scored last min equalisers/winning goals. It happened again against Sutton last Saturday - okay; theirs was a consolation goal - but lack of focus towards the end of fixtures has cost us points this season. And it continues to occur...

TK, I didn't say the current team compared to the team from 1968 . . . they don't! That Appleton team from 50 years ago is almost certainly the best team by a distance that there has ever been in our history (though in truth I cannot speak for the years from 1901 to 1962).

What I did say was that in some respects this is the best football played SINCE then. But,as you say, and as I was at pains to point out, the current team has shortcomings in the midst of the dazzling football. I agree with your concern that in the later stages (and for much of the second halves, bar Chesterfield) we seem to panic a bit, go into a shell, and the pure football is not so much in evidence. But when we play our stuff, mostly in the first halves, it is a pleasure to watch. But, yes, we are two leagues further down the pyramid so this team cannot compare with the 1968 team. But since Bodell took over and we dropped into major decline there hasn't been anything that I put above some of the performances witnessed this season.

[Hadrian]

Theirs no money in the town-area, thats why.

Employent and income statistics suggest otherwise. Typical employment pattern compared to the region and above national average income for salaried and hourly paid.

Not attacking you personally but this sort of negative attitude is trotted out too often in Barrow and needs to be challenged. More effort needed in shouting about the positives of the town and area.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Re-entry into the Football League is what a lot of people have been waiting for...and expecting... for sometime.
When it happens...they'll return.

I'm afraid until then - playing Non-League football - we'll have to be content with 1,000 +
That's not being negative - just realistic.

The euphoria it would create (reclaiming our status as a Football League Club) would act as a catalyst in the town for increased attendances at all future home games.